#fianna-fail

#fianna-fail

Taoiseach may yet push for a no-confidence motion in his leadership himself as high-stakes few months lie ahead for the greatest survivor of Irish politics The 2007 general election was the zenith of Fianna Fáil's power. Questions about his personal finances proved to do no damage to then taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who waltzed back to power with 78 Dáil seats and 43pc of the vote. But within a year the mood had turned sour.

I knew Heather a very long time as a TD but also across her various ministerial portfolios, especially during her time in Enterprise, where I witnessed first-hand how she represented Ireland at home and abroad with great distinction," Mr Gallagher added.

Party leaders are saying they were comprehensively let down by their candidate, effectively throwing Gavin to the wolves The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party is not used to such an internal omnishambles. When it meets this week there will be blood on the walls. The view of one former minister is that Micheál Martin is is now a lame-duck Taoiseach, no matter what happens, having insisted on his own way, effectively embarrassing the party.

Two teachers at a secondary school in Tallaght, Dublin, tell of the financial pressure some parents are under

Independent still hopeful of getting on the ballot, backers say

Fianna Fáil's Cathal Crowe says 'someone had it in' for Social Democrats TD